Boring, complex and important: a recipe for the web's dire future

Best robotic vacuum cleaners tested

This article was taken from the May 2014 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by <span class="s1">subscribing online.

Wired put four of the latest robotic cleaners on a 220cm x 160cm area of hard floor and carpet to see how efficiently they cleaned up five-gramme samples of crushed chalk, digestive-biscuit crumbs, green poster-paint, flour and crushed cheese puffs. Each model was given two minutes on its standard setting to clean up the entire mess. The volume cleaned up by each model was then measured. The cleaners were also judged on performance, versatility, ergonomics, hygiene and smart features. Average noise levels were also monitored, using the Decibel Meter app.

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This crazy intricate 3D-printed chair was built by robots

ByBonnie Christian

This clunky model sounded like it was about to take off when it started and took a while to get moving. But once in action it came top in our pick-up test with its "laser eye" that uses infrared light to scan the area five times a second. It aimed for -- and cleaned -- the line of mess in one fell swoop, steering well to avoid bumping into corners. It can be programmed in nine languages and has a filter to remove dust particles from the air.

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The robust and attractive Roomba (also pictured right)can be programmed via IR remote to clean throughout the week. Although it worked pretty well in our test, it smeared the paint across the floor and struggled to pick up the larger biscuit crumbs. A spinning side brush, however, cleaned along edges and corners well, and a built-in Hepa filter, which claims to capture particles as fine as 0.3 microns, makes it a good buy for allergy sufferers.

WIRED Good for all floor types

TIRED Sluggish £579

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Ethical hackers have turned this robot into a stabbing machine

One of the best-looking designs on test, the Navibot glided smoothly in a zig-zag manner towards the mess. Once there, it neatly avoided obstacles thanks to a built-in camera that maps out its surroundings at 15 images per second. It is also impressively smooth and quiet, and its built-in "cliff-sensor technology" means it will steer clear of stairs and other dangerous drop points when cleaning upstairs areas.

WIRED Attractive and quiet

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Meet Method-2, the Korean megabot straight out of sci-fi

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The Hom-Bot picked up the least volume, but it was accurate, heading straight for the line of mess. It comes with two side-brushes that remove dirt from tight corners, and using infrared and ultrasonic sensors lets it dodge anything in its path -- even in the dark. With its Hepa filter and easy-access side-opening bin, its design is very hygienic, and the clever voice-alert will let you know when its work is finished.

WIRED Smart voice alerts and sensors

TIRED Poor results

£450

This article was first published in the May 2014 issue of WIRED magazine